Control your very own BB-8 droid with just the power of the Force, sort of…

The team at Sphero and Firebox have just announced a special collector’s edition of the incredibly popular Sphero BB-8 droid that was released last year. The new collector’s edition not only features a “battle-worn” version of the original BB-8 droid but it also comes bundled with Sphero’s new Force Band accessory which grants the user jedi-esque control of their BB-8 unit through the use of some simple hand gestures.

The “battle-worn” BB-8 and Force Band Collector’s bundle is going to be a hot product this holiday season and can be exclusively pre-ordered at Firebox.com. The Collector’s bundle comes boxed in a beautiful embossed presentation tin and will retail at £179.99.

To use the new Force Band simply strap it on and do your finest impression of Qui-Gon Jinn ‘cheating’ at dice with Watto the junk-dealer, or at least you’ll end up doing something very similar to actually control your Sphero BB-8. Using a series of sweeping hand gestures you can control the droid’s actions, for instance to send BB-8 into driving mode, turn your palm down and BB-8 will look away from you, turn your hand up and it’ll look back at you.

When you’re not masterfully controlling your droid, the Force Band can harness the force in a number of other exciting ways. In the Force Awareness mode, the band will periodically alert you to disturbances in the force; by following light cues and vibrations you’ll be able to uncover digital relics nearby and collect them in a smartphone app. It’s a bit like Pokémon Go – only you’re a Jedi master.

The Combat Training mode lets you use the band to wield virtual weapons like Blasters and Lightsabers – emitting an array of sound effects and vibrations as you swing and shoot them.

Just like the original Sphero BB-8; you can watch your droid explore autonomously or guide it yourself with your smartphone or tablet, create and view holographic recordings and even watch ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ with BB-8 and see him respond to certain scenes.

The Sphero Battle-Worn BB-8 and Force Band Special Edition Bundle is available to pre-order at Firebox.com for £179.99.

For those who wish to experience the force with their original Sphero BB-8 droid, the Star Wars Force Band is also available to pre-order separately for £69.99.